Condenser for hay-presses, &amp;c.



' L. B. WYGANT.

' CONDENSER FOR HAY PRBSSES, 6w. APPLICATION FILEDAPR. 28, 1909.

957,291. Patented May 10, 1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

MDREW n. GRAHAM cu. movuumnennvusfis WASHINGTON. a c.

L. B. WYG-ANT.

CONDENSER FOR HAY PRESSES, 6w. APPLICATION FILED APR. 28, 1909.

957,291 Patented May 10,1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

FJ-Ymenfoz lei V65 am witnesses attain;

IED 'I OFFIQE.

LEWIS B. WYG-ANT, OF BELLEVUE, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE OHIO CULTIVATORCOMPANY, OF BELLEVUE, 01-110, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

CONDENSER FOR HAY-PRESSES, 850.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 1d, 1911).

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LEWIS B. IVYGANT, a citizen of the United States,residing at Bellevue, in the county of Huron and State of Ohio, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Condensers for I-IayPresses and the Like, of which the following is a specification,reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to condensers for hay presses and the like, andthe object of the invention is to provide a device of this characterwhich will condense a large quantity of hay or other material into acomparatively small bundle, thereby enabling the feeder to force theentire quantity of hay into the path of the compressing plunger by asingle operation. It is also an object of the invention to provide suchdevice which, when in its idle position, will be so located as to notinterfere with the operation of the other parts of the machine or withthe movements of the operator; in which the condensing members will movein a vertical plane; in which the condensing members will be positivelyactuated from the driving mechanism for the press; in which the movementof the condensing members will be positively limited; in which meanswill be provided for preventing the hay or other material from enteringin the rear of the condensing members; in which means will be providedfor interrupting the movement of said condensing members withoutinterrupting the movement of the actuating mechanism therefor; and whichwill be simple in its construction and efficient in its operation.

With these objects in view my invention consists in certain novelfeatures and in certain combinations and arrangements of partshereinafter to be described, and then more particularly pointed out inthe claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a portionof a press embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a trans verse section ofsuch a press, showing an end elevation of my invention; and Fig. 3 is adetail view of a slightly modified form of condensing member.

In these drawings I have illustrated one embodiment of my invention andhave shown the same as applied to a hay press of ordinary constructioncomprising a mam frame 1 provided with the usual feed opening or hopper2, through which the hay is fed to the condensing plunger by means ofthe usual feeder A. Mounted upon the main frame 1 is a feeding platform3 having an opening 4: arranged immediately above the feed opening 2 ofthe main frame. In the operation of the machine a quantity of hay isthrown upon the feeding platform 3 above the feed opening or hopper inthe main frame. This hay will spread out on all sides of the opening inthe feeding platform, and, when the feeder descends, it will engage thatportion of the hay lying above the opening and will force that portionof the hay into the hopper or feed opening in the main frame, but willleave upon the feeding platform a considerable portion of the hay whichlies beyond the edges of the opening therein. To enable the feeder to soengage the hay as to force all of it into the hopper or feed opening ata single operation I have enlarged the opening 4; in the feedingplatform 3 and have extended the same for a considerable distance beyondthe sides of the feed opening in the main frame. Immediately beneath theoutwardly extended portions of the opening 4 I have arranged suitablecondensing members which are pivotally mounted at their inner ends uponthe main frame near the opposite sides of the feed opening 2 and havingtheir outer ends so arranged as to pass freely through the opening 4.These condensing members are preferably mounted to move about horizontalaxes and are operatively connected to some moving part of the press. Inthe present instance I have showneach condensing member as comprising agroup of arms 5, arranged substantially parallel and rigidly connectedone to the other so that they will move in unison. In the presentinstance the several arms comprising each member are rigidly secured attheir inner ends to horizontal shafts 6, which are journaled in bearings7 mounted on the main frame 1 and are arranged on opposite sides of thefeed opening 2. The outer ends of the arms are also preferably connectedone to the other by means of a rod or bar 8 secured thereto and servingto maintain the outer or free ends of the arms in alinement. Anysuitable number of arms may be employed and their arrangement and themanner of connecting the same may be varied to meet varying conditions.If desired, the

arms 5 may be spaced some distance apart and the space between the sameclosed by means of a covering of sheet metal or the like, as is moreclearly shown in Fig. 3.

The arms 5 are preferably curved in such a manner that, when in theiridle positions, the outer or free ends thereof will lie substantiallyflush with the feeding platform 3. A bar or rod 9, arranged parallelwith the shafts G on each side of the main frame, servesto limit thedownward movement of the condensing members or arms 5. To limit theupward movement of these members or arms suitable rods 10 are looselysecured to the bars 8 connecting the outer ends of the arms 5. The rods10 extend on the outer side of the rods 9, which are mounted justbeneath the feeding platform 3, and, as the condensing members or armsare moved upwardly into their condensing positions, the rods 10 willride over the rods 9. Each rod 10 is provided at its lower end with aninwardly turned hook 11 which is so arranged that, when the condensingmembers have reached the upper limit of their movement, it will engagethe rod 9 and form a positive stop for the condensing members. Ifdesired, several of these rods or stops 1() may be employed, and, whenthe condensing members are in their uppermost position, these rods willeX tend across the space between the feeding platform 3 and thecondensing member and form a guard to prevent the entrance of hay orother material in the rear of the condensing members.

The condensing members are preferably actuated simultaneously from somemoving part of the press. In the present instance I have shown each ofthe shafts G as provided with a crank arm 12 which is connected by meansof a pit-man 13 with a crank 14 mounted on a rockshaft 15 which extendstransversely to the press, the two shafts 6 being connected to theopposite ends of the rockshaft 15. The rockshaft 15 is provided with asecond crank arm 16 which extends at an angle to the crank arms 14 andis here shown as connected, by means of a pitman 17, with a part of thedriving mechanism for the compressing plunger 25. In the presentinstance I have shown the pitman 17 as connected to a crank 18 carriedby a shaft 19 upon which are mounted the driving gears 20 for thecompressing plunger. Thus, it will be seen that each rotation of theshaft 19, and, consequently, each reciprocation of the compressingplunger, will cause the condensing members 5 to complete a singleoperation. It is desirable, however, that the condensing members or armsshould remain in their idle position for a length of time sufficient toenable the desired quantity of hay or other material to be placed uponthe feeding platform above the feed opening 2. In order to thusinterrupt the movement of the condensing members without interruptingthe movement of the actuating mechanism I have provided the pitman 17with a longitudinal slot 21 which receives a pin 22 secured to the crankarm 16. As the pitman 17 begins its return movement the condensingmembers will move downwardly either of their own accord or through themedium of a spring 23 extending between the crank arm 12 of one of theshafts 6 and a fixed part of the main frame. When the condensing membersreach their lowermost position the pin 22 will still be at the forwardend of the slot 21. Consequently, the pitman will move forward thelength of the slot and then rearward the same distance before it againcomes into operative engagement with the pin 22, and, thus, thecondensing members will remain stationary during this movement of thepitman. This period of idleness is sufficient to enable the necessaryamount of hay to be placed on the platform above the opening 2.

The forward side of the hopper or feed opening 2, i. 6., the sideopposite the feeder, may, if desired, be provided with an inclined guideor plate 2 which facilitates the compressing of the hay into a compactbundle.

In the operation of the machine that portion of the hay placed upon thefeeding platform 3, which lies beyond the opposite sides of the feedopening 2, will lie above the condensing members, and, as these membersmove upwardly, the hay will be con densed into a compact bundleimmediately above the feed opening, thus permitting the same to be soengaged by the feeder as to force the entire bundle of hay into the feedopening and into the path of the plunger.

It will be apparent that the condenser is of such a character that itnormally occupies a position in which it does not interfere in any waywith the operation of the other parts of the machine or with themovements of the operator; that the condensing mem bers move in avertical plane, thus moving the hay into a position above the feedopening; that the condensing members are positively actuated from a partof the driving mechanism of the press and that this actuation is socontrolled that the condensing members will remain stationary for apredetermined period sufticient to permit the desired quantity of hay tobe placed on the feeding platform above the same; that means have beenprovided for positively limiting the movement of the condensing membersand for preventing the entrance of hay in the rear of the same; and thatthe device as a whole is exceedingly simple in its construction andoperation and is possessed of a high degree of efliciency.

I wish it to be understood that I do not ios desire to be limited to thedetails of construction shown and described, for obvious modificationswill occur to a person skilled in the art.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desireto secure by Letters Patent, is z- 1. In a machine of the characterdescribed, the combination, with a frame having a feed opening therein,of condensing mechanism comprising condensing members arranged along thesides of said feed opening and supported normally in substantiallyhorizontal positions, means for moving said condensing members intosubstantially vertical positions, feeding mechanism independent of saidcondensing mechanism and comprising a feeder supported normally abovesaid feed opening and adapted to enter the same between said condensingmembers, and separate means for actuating said feeding mechanism.

2. In a machine of the character described, the combination, with aframe having a feed opening therein, of condensing mechanism comprisingcondensing members arranged along the sides of said feed opening andsupported in substantially horizontal positions, means for moving saidcondensing members into substantially vertical positions, feedingmechanism independent of said condensing mechanism and comprising afeeder adapted to enter said feed opening, means for limiting themovement of said condensing members to prevent them from entering thepath of said feeder, and separate means for actuating said feedingmechanism.

3. In a machine of the character described, the combination, with aframe having a feed opening therein, of a condensing mechanismcomprising shafts journaleol on opposite sides of said feed opening,groups of condensing arms secured to each of said shafts and normallysupported in a substantially horizontal position, and means foractuating said shafts to move said condensing arms into substantiallyvertical positions, and feed mechanism independent of said condensingmechanism and comprising a feeder supported normally above said feedopening and adapted to enter the same between the two groups ofcondensing arms.

4-. In a machine of the character described, the combination, with aframe having a feed opening therein, of a condensing mechanismcomprising shafts journaled on opposite sides of said feed opening,groups of condensing arms secured to each of said shafts and normallysupported in a substantially horizontal position, means for actuatingsaid shafts to move said condensing arms into substantially verticalpositions, a rod connected to each group of condensing arms and having ahook-shaped end, a stop carried by said frame and arranged to be engagedby the hook-shaped end of said rod, and feeding mechanism independent ofsaid condensing mechanism and comprising a feeder adapted to enter saidfeed opening.

5. In a machine of the character described, the combination, with aframe having a feed opening, of a plurality of groups of arms mounted onhorizontal axes on opposite sides of said feed opening, a rod connectingthe outer ends of the arms on each side of said feed opening, a secondrod loosely mounted on said first-mentioned rod and having a hook-shapedlower end, and a stop carried by said frame and adapted to be engaged bythe hook-shaped end of said last-mentioned rod.

6. In a machine of the character described, the combination, with aframe having a feed opening, and a feeding platform mounted on saidframe, having an opening arranged above said feed opening and extendingon opposite sides thereof, of eondensing members mounted on said mainframe beneath said feeding platform, and means for actuating saidcondensing members to move the free ends thereof through the opening insaid feeding platform.

7. In a machine of the character described, the combination, with aframe having a feed opening, and a feeding platform mounted on saidframe and having an opening arranged above said feed opening andextending beyond the opposite sides thereof, of a plurality of groups ofarms pivotally mounted on said main frame on opposite sides of said feedopening and beneath said feeding platform, said arms being so arrangedthat their free ends lie substantially flush with said feeding platformwhen in their normal positions, and means for moving said arms abouttheir pivotal centers.

8. In a machine of the character described, the combination, with aframe having a feed opening, and a feeding platform having an openingarranged above said feed opening and extending beyond the opposite sidesthereof, of a plurality of groups of arms pivotally mounted on theopposite sides of said feed opening, rods loosely connected to the outerends of said arms and having hook-shaped lower ends, and stops carriedby said main frame beneath said feeding platform and adapted to beengaged by said hook-shaped rods.

9. In a machine of the character described, the combination, with aframe having a feed opening, a shaft journaled on each side of said feedopening, a condensing member carried by each of said shafts, a crank armsecured to each of said shafts, a rockshaft mounted in said frame, andpitmen connecting each of said crank arms to said rockshaft, and meansfor actuating said rockshaft.

10. In a machine of the character described, the combination, with aframe having a feed opening, condensing members pivotally mounted onopposite sides of said feed opening, a pitman operatively connected to amoving part of said machine, and means for loosely connecting saidpitman to said condensing members, whereby the movement of saidcondensing members may be interrupted without interrupting the operationof said machine.

11. In a hay press, the combination, with a main frame having a feedopening, a plunger, and driving mechanism therefor, of a shaft journaledon each side of said feed opening, a crank arm carried by each of saidshafts, a rocksha-ft journaled in said main frame, pitmen for connectingsaid crank arms to said rockshaft, and means for operatively connectingsaid rockshaft to the driving mechanism for said plunger.

12. In a hay press, the combination, with a main frame having a feedopening, a plunger, and driving mechanism therefor, of a shaft journaledon each side of said feed opening, a crank arm carried by each of saidshafts, a rockshaft journaled in said main frame, a pitman forconnecting said crank arms to said rockshaft, a crank arm rigidlysecured to said rockshaft and having a pin in one end thereof, and apitman having a slot at one end adapted to receive said pin andoperatively connected at its other end to the driving mechanism for saidplunger.

13. In a machine of the character described, a condensing membercomprising a plurality of parallel arms pivotally mounted on a commonaxis, and means for closing the spaces between said arms.

14. In a machine of the character described, a condensing membercomprising a plurality of parallel arms pivotally mounted on a commonaxis, and a covering of sheet metal extending over said arms and closingthe spaces between the same.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

LEIVIS B. \VYGANT.

lVitnesscs E. A. KEMP, E. H. EnnnIoI-I.

